Meet Trailblazer Leslie Lake

Today we’d like to introduce you to Leslie Lake.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Leslie. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Back in 2012, the hustle was real, I was working and killing it as a young cocktail server and saving up to purchase my first home! One evening a young gentleman (might be my husband now) asked me what I was going to do in my future?, what I was going to be? where I was going to go? Well, first and foremost, I had no college degree and NO CLUE how to answer that question I was already making great money and figured I’d work in food and beverage my entire life. That evening, I went home and wrote down everything I was great at, and or that intrigued me. The beauty industry was the first thing on my list, I really enjoyed making people feel great about themselves and I knew to be able to supply that confidence to clients would make me a success. I wanted to do something that didn’t require schooling, and a boatload of money, so I started googling things on the internet. I came across tanning, tanning was fairly inexpensive to start up and something easy that I could manage. I could continue to hustle at my day job and take spray tan clients in the evenings! This way I could continue to fund my new hobby and figure things out as they came. I began purchasing equipment and marketing myself to my close friends/family/and even coworkers.

Free spray tan in return, I need a before and after picture. That was a steal looking back! My clientele started to grow immensely by word of mouth and my before and after pictures on the internet. I began traveling and doing mobile spray tans as well as taking clients in my new home. My last appointment at my house was 11 pm! Once I realized that I was spending more time commuting then actually with my clients, I knew I needed a salon. Fast forward now to 2019, I have built a small empire, I am currently the one-stop beauty shop of Newport Beach, CA offering everything but hair services. Ex: Spray tanning, Skincare, Swimwear boutique, Medical grade facials, Botox parties, Lash extensions, Microblading, and I even have a nail bar.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I don’t think I have ever read a success story without a bumpy road, whether it be in financials, business partner breakups, clauses in an agreement, bad timing, or poor products & marketing. I fit somewhere in a few of those categories. I think I’m still paying off my first location haha. In my opinion, the struggles have only made me stronger! It totally made me realize where my weaknesses were and how I could bridge those gaps.

My best advice is to always weigh out the pros and cons of any business or product, think and write down all the people your product or service can help or benefit, write down 25 people you personally know that would pay for your product or services (NOT DISCOUNTED!!), DON’T SETTLE ON YOUR LOCATION OF THE BUSINESS, have at least 6- 12 months rent for space saved in your bank account for your startup because trust me there will be hiccups! I also like to set weekly and monthly goals for myself and I really enjoy crossing them off as I accomplish them, It continues to motivate me to accomplish more the next month and keeps me on my toes. TRY IT!

We’d love to hear more about Pale Girls Palace.
At Pale Girls Palace, we offer every beauty service but hair treatments. I personally offer customized spray tans, facial treatments including Microdermabrasion, chemical peels. microneedling, plasma fibroblast skin tightening, and basic facials, lash lifts and several add-ons. I also carry products such as various swimwear lines, my self-tanner The Tinder Tan, my very own skincare line, hand made jewelry and crystals.

I am most reputable for my amazing all organic, odorless, pregnancy safe, vegan, customized spray tans my tans last anywhere from 10-14 days if the client follows my strict aftercare and maintenance. I founded this company strictly on making people feel great about themselves and as I got further into the skincare game, I knew I had to make my products unique and special. So, I worked very hard with a lab to create my very own solution! So, that definitely was a game changer because my tans are one of a kind that isn’t full of harsh chemicals and binders. You can feel the difference and they typically last longer than any of my competitors.

I am most proud of the fact that I have created such an experience for my clients ( that have become family), they call me to prepare for the biggest life events from their wedding day, birthdays, bachelorette party, engagement photos, kids birthdays, anniversary… you name it and they come in! My clients can rely on me for an honest opinion and know that I always check in to see how they like their spray tans whether it’s their first time in or millionth. I create an everlasting friendship and bond with every client and really get to know them.  And I do believe that is why they continue to come back.

What sets me apart from others would probably have to be my very creative company name! I get calls from new clients that want to see what I’m all about solely based off of my name alone. Most people love it!

What’s the most important piece of advice you could give to a young woman just starting her career?
Don’t let anyone talk you out of your dream or idea. People will say it’s dumb or it’s never going to pan out. But you get to write your own success story and thats what I love about being an entrepreneur.

Contact Info:

• Address: 2600 Newport Blvd Set 150 Newport Beach, CA 92663
• Website: https://pale-girls-palace.business.site
• Phone: 9518330102
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pale_girls_palace/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/palegirlspalace/
• Twitter: @PaleGirlsPalace

Image Credit:
@cooksandcleanstoo, @socalbloggerbabes, @Pale_girls_palace, @stylingsunshine

Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.